Tests for chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)
There is no single test to diagnose CPPS. Your doctor will need to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms before they make a diagnosis. This can take some time.
You might be diagnosed with CPPS if you’ve had some of the symptoms listed above for more than three of the last six months. But your doctor may diagnose CPPS sooner than this.
They will ask you about your symptoms or give you a questionnaire to fill in. Your doctor may also ask about your medical history. This can help them work out what is causing your symptoms, and which treatments are most likely to help.
You’ll need to have a urine test to make sure you don’t have a urine infection. You may also have a physical examination, including a digital rectal examination (DRE), and some other tests, such as a PSA test. Ask your doctor for more information about other tests you may have. For some tests, you might need to visit a doctor at the hospital who specialises in urinary problems (a urologist) or a specialist nurse.
Worried about having a DRE?
It’s natural to feel worried or embarrassed about having tests, but some men find the idea of having a DRE upsetting. For example, if you’ve ever been sexually abused, you might feel very upset about having this test.
There’s no right or wrong way to feel, and it’s your choice whether or not to have a DRE. If you do decide to have a DRE, explain your situation to your doctor. They can talk you through the test and help to reassure you. It may also help to talk to a counsellor.